U.N. truce in Eastern Ghouta

Eli Ridder | The Avro Post

Remaining Syrian rebel groups in the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta entered into a United Nations-brokered ceasefire on Thursday night.

The area has been the focus of intense combat as forces loyal to Damascus push into the area, with some 83 per cent of the rebel territory taken at this point, according the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights.

A spokesperson for one of the rebel militias, Faylaq al-Rahman, said that the ceasefire had been agreed to “in order to negotiate with the Russian side about finding a solution to guarantee the safety of civilians”.

The U.N., Syria and Damascus-ally Russia have been silent regarding the report, and news agencies could not immediately confirm if the truce was actually in force following the scheduled 10 p.m. GMT ceasefire.

An earlier truce between the Ahrar al-Sham militia and the Syrian army allowed for some 600 rebels and their families to depart the key town of Harasta, said reports.

Buses carrying over 1,400, with more expected to follow on Friday, were en route to rebel-held Idlib province.

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Eli Ridder is a journalism student at the University of Guelph-Humber and a senior correspondent for multiple independent publications including, but not limited to, The Anon Journal, Berning Media Network and the Ribbon. Find out more at eliridder.ca